West Indies’ hopes of securing automatic qualification for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 received a further hit after losing to New Zealand to end their Cricket World Cup Super League campaign. They were penalized for a slow over rate.
Even after taking into account the slow rate, Nicholas Pooran’s team was penalized two Super League points for failing to finish their overs in the permitted time, which was two overs. Match referee Richie Richardson issued this penalty.
After the hosts were defeated by five wickets, on-field umpires Joel Wilson and Leslie Reifer, third umpire Gregory Brathwaite, and fourth umpire Nigel Duguid leveled the charge. Pooran pleaded guilty to the infraction.
The West Indies now have 88 points, which is unlikely to place them in the top eight at the end of the Super League season and guarantee them a trip to India.
With wins worth ten points, Ireland (9th on 68 points) has a better net run rate than the West Indies, and two victories against Bangladesh at home the following year would probably boost their ranking. Sri Lanka (10th on 62 points) and South Africa (11th on 49 points) both have a number of series left in the cycle and are poised to strike.
If West Indies didn’t place in the top eight, they would have to compete in the Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe in 2019.
The top three teams from Cricket World Cup League 2 and the top two teams from the Cricket World Cup Qualifier Play-off join the bottom five Super League clubs in the Qualifier.
West Indies hasn’t really been performing up to their reputation as they lost back-to-back series against Bangladesh, India, and now Newzealand. There is a problem that needs to be fixed and the team and management will hope to bring the changes in action before the commencement of the next recent ICC tournament T20 World Cup which is to be hosted in Australia. From August 28 to September 3, Zimbabwe will play host to Aaron Finch’s team in Townsville for the next Super League match.
